With this brave decision comes the responsibility of facing our
collective energy future with sober senses and making hard choices about
where our power will come from in years to come. Do we want to be
reliant on the out-of-state open market and all the uncertainty that
such a gamble would entail concerning our utility rates? Do we want to
buy energy from coal plants that result in acid rain and increased
greenhouse gas emissions? Can we continue to rely on offshore oil
production and again risk the economic and environmental disaster we are
today witnessing in the Gulf of Mexico? To these questions I would
venture that most Vermonters would answer with a resounding "no."
It is common sense that Vermont should strive to build the electrical
capacity needed by Vermonters squarely within our own borders and under
our relatively high standards of public oversight. It is also common
sense to envision such an in-state energy future as one that will
utilize renewable, locally available sources that incorporate carbon
neutral technologies whenever possible. Wind power fits this bill and
surely has an important role to play.
The New England-based Citizens Wind is interested in exploring the
possibility of constructing a wind farm on the ridgeline that runs
through Moretown, Waitsfield and possibly Northfield. Such a wind farm,
if built to capacity, could provide enough clean electricity for at
least 12,000 homes. It would generate green power that is carbon
neutral, and it would provide over 40 good paying jobs during the
construction phase and five additional long-term jobs upon its
completion. It would also generate a projected $375,000 in annual
revenue to be split proportionately between the affected towns as part
of a host town agreement; revenue that could be used to reduce the
property tax burden on local working families. These are the reasons
that I am interested in this project and why, in principle, I am a
supporter of wind development projects. However, I have got ahead of
myself.
While I support wind, in general, the fact is we do not yet have a solid
and detailed proposal in our hands that we can be rationally for or
against in any definitive way. There have been no site studies done
concerning the wind, the environmental impact, or the social impact that
a wind farm would entail. In short we do not have all the facts and
details we require to make a final informed opinion.
Therefore, what we, as a community, should now do is encourage studies
(paid for by Citizens Wind) that clarify if wind farming is feasible on
our ridgelines. In addition, we should require studies that will
determine the social and environmental impact that a wind farm would
carry. And, finally, we should also welcome a detailed development
proposal from Citizens Wind.
With such a proposal in our hands, and with full public access to all
the findings entailed in said studies, we would then be in a position to
formulate an informed and rational opinion about the merits of this
particular project. Towards that end I would expect and encourage a
spirited and respectful public debate through a series of public
hearings in all the affected towns. And, in turn, such public hearings
should culminate in townwide votes on any comprehensive proposal on Town
Meeting Day, 2011. In brief, any project of this magnitude should only
be done by the informed consent of all the voters. While I do not claim
to speak for anyone other than myself, this is what I believe and will
support as a select board member in Moretown.
Van Deusen serves on the Moretown Select Board.
